Numbers 7

King James Version

Full text for Numbers Chapter 7

1¶ And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;

2That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who [were] the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:

3And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.

4And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

5Take [it] of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.

6And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.

7Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:

8And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

9But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them [was that] they should bear upon their shoulders.

10¶ And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.

11And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.

12And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:

13And his offering [was] one silver charger, the weight thereof [was] an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them [were] full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

14One spoon of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense:

15One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

16One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

17And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

18On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:

19He offered [for] his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof [was] an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

20One spoon of gold of ten [shekels], full of incense:

21One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

22One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

23And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

24On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, [did offer]:

25His offering [was] one silver charger, the weight whereof [was] an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

26One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:

27One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

28One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

29And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

30On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, [did offer]:

31His offering [was] one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

32One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:

33One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

34One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

35And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

36On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, [did offer]:

37His offering [was] one silver charger, the weight whereof [was] an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

38One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:

39One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

40One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

41And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

42On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, [offered]:

43His offering [was] one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty [shekels], a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

44One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:

45One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

46One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

47And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

48On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, [offered]:

49His offering [was] one silver charger, the weight whereof [was] an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

50One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:

51One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

52One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

53And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

54On the eighth day [offered] Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:

55His offering [was] one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

56One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:

57One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

58One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

59And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

60On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, [offered]:

61His offering [was] one silver charger, the weight whereof [was] an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

62One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:

63One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

64One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

65And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

66On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, [offered]:

67His offering [was] one silver charger, the weight whereof [was] an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

68One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:

69One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

70One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

71And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

72On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, [offered]:

73His offering [was] one silver charger, the weight whereof [was] an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

74One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:

75One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

76One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

77And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.

78On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, [offered]:

79His offering [was] one silver charger, the weight whereof [was] an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

80One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:

81One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

82One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

83And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this [was] the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

84This [was] the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:

85Each charger of silver [weighing] an hundred and thirty [shekels], each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels [weighed] two thousand and four hundred [shekels], after the shekel of the sanctuary:

86The golden spoons [were] twelve, full of incense, [weighing] ten [shekels] apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons [was] an hundred and twenty [shekels].

87All the oxen for the burnt offering [were] twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve.

88And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings [were] twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This [was] the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.

89And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that [was] upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Numbers chapter seven details the extensive dedication of the newly erected Tabernacle and its altar. Following its anointing, the princes of Israel presented wagons and oxen for the Levites' service in transporting the Tabernacle's components. Subsequently, for twelve consecutive days, each tribal prince offered an identical, elaborate set of gifts and sacrifices to dedicate the altar. The chapter concludes with Moses hearing the Lord's voice speaking from the mercy seat within the Tabernacle.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with the complete setting up, anointing, and sanctifying of the Tabernacle and its instruments by Moses. Immediately thereafter, the princes of Israel presented an offering of six covered wagons and twelve oxen to the Lord. Moses, as commanded by the Lord, distributed these vehicles and animals to the Levites according to their service: the Gershonites received two wagons and four oxen, and the Merarites received four wagons and eight oxen for transport, while the Kohathites received none, as their duty was to bear the sanctuary items upon their shoulders. Following this, the princes commenced a twelve-day dedication of the altar, with each prince offering an identical array of silver vessels, a gold spoon, and various animals for burnt, sin, and peace offerings on their designated day. The chapter meticulously lists each prince's offering, emphasizing the uniformity of their contributions. Finally, it records that Moses, upon entering the Tabernacle, heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him from between the cherubims upon the mercy seat.

Long Summary

Numbers chapter seven meticulously records the dedication of the Tabernacle and its altar, commencing on the day Moses had fully established, anointed, and sanctified the sacred structure and all its vessels. The initial offerings came from the princes of Israel, who, as heads of their fathers' houses, brought six covered wagons and twelve oxen before the Tabernacle. The Lord instructed Moses to accept these gifts and distribute them to the Levites for their service in transporting the Tabernacle. Accordingly, Moses assigned two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon for their specific duties, and four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, under the supervision of Ithamar. Notably, no wagons or oxen were given to the sons of Kohath, as their sacred responsibility was to bear the holy sanctuary items upon their shoulders. Following this provision for transport, the chapter details the twelve-day dedication of the altar, with each of the twelve tribal princes offering on a successive day. Each prince's offering was identical in composition and quantity: one silver charger weighing 130 shekels, one silver bowl of 70 shekels (both full of fine flour and oil for a meat offering), one gold spoon of 10 shekels full of incense, one young bullock, one ram, and one lamb for a burnt offering, one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five lambs for a sacrifice of peace offerings. The text systematically repeats this precise list for each of the twelve princes, from Nahshon of Judah on the first day to Ahira of Naphtali on the twelfth. The chapter concludes by summarizing the cumulative totals of all these offerings and, significantly, notes that when Moses entered the Tabernacle of the congregation to speak with the Lord, he heard the divine voice speaking to him from off the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims upon the ark of testimony.

Core Concepts

  • Tabernacle ConsecrationThe chapter opens with the complete setting up, anointing, and sanctifying of the Tabernacle and all its instruments, marking its readiness for divine service.
  • Levitical Transport ProvisionThe princes of Israel offered wagons and oxen, which Moses distributed to the Gershonite and Merarite Levites to aid in the transportation of the Tabernacle's components, while the Kohathites carried sacred items on their shoulders.
  • Altar Dedication CeremonyA significant twelve-day period during which each of the twelve tribal princes presented an identical, elaborate offering for the consecration of the altar.
  • Standardized Sacrificial GiftsEach prince's daily offering for the altar's dedication was precisely the same, including specific weights of silver vessels, a gold spoon for incense, and various animals for burnt, sin, and peace offerings.
  • Tribal Princes' RoleThe leaders of each of the twelve tribes played a central and uniform role in the dedication ceremonies, symbolizing the collective participation of all Israel.
  • Divine CommunicationThe chapter concludes with Moses hearing the voice of the Lord speaking directly to him from the mercy seat, located between the cherubims upon the ark of testimony within the Tabernacle.